Birth Control Safety and Side Effects

Bungling birth control is all too common. In fact, half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended. Yikes. To make sure you can count on your contraceptive, here are the potential pitfalls.   View slideshow

Times have changed since women going on birth control risked the pelvic infections of the Dalkon Shield or hormones dosed perilously high. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) have been redesigned to be very safe. The contraceptive sponge is almost risk free—though there are more effective ways to prevent pregnancy. Condoms are safe for everyone and are the only form of birth control that protects against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). And the Pill is so safe and effective these days that it is available over-the-counter in some countries.  Read More

Hormone-based birth control often comes with side effects that can range from slightly annoying to bad enough to make you switch. You may not know what you can tolerate until you've given a couple of them a try. But here are some solutions for the most common problems.  Read More

Many women don’t have any problems with hormonal birth control, but some do experience side effects. Those include headache, nausea, breast tenderness, or spotting between periods.  Read More

The Pill is a very effective form of birth control, but it's not without side effects, and sometimes patience is key. Just ask Andrea, 29, a public relations executive and marathon runner.  Read More